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A 2 Sheetsf-Sheet `1. W. WEDGWOOD.

Y GAN GAPPING- MACHINE.

No. 470,368. Patented-- Mar. 8, 1,892.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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w. lWxancwsfooD. CAN GAPPING MACHINE.

No. 470,368. Patented Mar. 8, 189:2.

lll/A UNrTED STATES f Arnim Grrr-cno VILLIAM VEDGVVOOD, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALFORNIA.

CAN-CAPPING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 470,368, dated March 8, 1892.

Application filed May 4, 1891.

To a/ZZ whom t may concern: l.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM WEDGwooD, acitizeu of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Can-Capping Machines; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to the class of canhandling machines, and especially to a machine the object of which is to present a succession of revolving cans to the operator in order to solder their caps.

My invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts/hereinafter fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, effective, and rapidly-operating machine for carrying into position before the operator a series of cans which are caused to revolve, whereby they may be properly subjected to the soldering-iron to secure their caps.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of my invention, Figure l is a planof my machine. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of same.

A'is a fixed standard mounted in a base B. Upon this standard is a revolving sleeve C, which has secured to it the table D, in the outer edge or rim of which are mounted the spindles E which carry the can holders e. Rising from the table are brackets d, in the upper ends of which are mounted the vertically-movable cap-holding rods F, which have enlarged hollow lower ends f, perforated and adapted to fit over the central hole of the cancap and to hold said cap on the can. The table D is revolved by means of friction-gear c on sleeve C, which meshes with a frictiongear g on an upright shaft G. This shaft has a top pulley g', from which a belt g2 extends to a pulley h on a vertical shaft H, which is driven by the bevel-gearingi from the powerthaft I. By the revolution of the ,table the cans are carried around into position before the operator. The cans are rotated upon theirown axes by a rotary motion imparted to the spindles E of their holders.V This motion is transmitted by means of an endless traveling belt J, which passes around a top Serial No. 391,557. (No model.)

pulley h on the shaft H and around a top pulley 1c on a vertical shaft K, the relative positions of the said shafts I-l and lli being such that the inner fold of the belt, or that side which is nearest the machine, lies in such a position as to come in frctional contact with pulleys e on the `lower ends of 'the spindles E, whereby through said contact the pulleys, by reason of their bodily travel around with the table, are rotated axially, thus affectin g the rotation of the can-holders and cans. y

The holding-rods F are held down to position on the caps and are raised therefrom to free the cans after the caps have been soldered by the following means: Upon the top of the fixed standard A is secured a stationary cam-track L, having a depressed portion opposite where the operator stands and an ele- -vated portion on the other side. Secured to the holding-rods F are arms f', which carry rollers f2, adapted to travel upon the cam track. The holding-rods F have weighted upper ends, in order to hold them firmly down upon the cap.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The cans (represented by M) are placed in the series of holders e and their caps are placed upon their tops. A rotary motion being imparted t0 the table Cby the means described, the cans are brought successively around into position before the operator. Upon approaching this position the pulleys of the holder-spindles, coming in contact with the traveling belt, are caused to rotate, whereby the cans are rotated axially, and as they reach the position in front of the operator they are not only traveling around with the table,but are rotating upon their own axes. In coming to this position the small rollers f2 of the holding-rods F travel down to the depressed portion of the cam-track, whereby the holding-rods are permitted to move down, with their lower ends pressing upon the cancap and holding it to place. The operator, using the soldering-iron as usual, secures the cap and the cans pass on beyond his position until, leaving the friction-belt, they cease to rotate axially, and at this time the rollers f2, reaching the elevated portion of the camtrack, travel up thereon, thereby raising the holding-rods F from the cans and freeing ICO them, whereby they can be readily removed. The object of the hollow perforated foot or lower end of the holding-rod is to permit the escape of air and gas from the can.

Now in order to provide for stopping the bodily movement or travel of the cans at any time-as, for example, if it be necessary to take a longer time or pay more attention to any particular can*I have thefollowing throwingout mechanism: The upright shaft G, which carries the small friction-gear g, with which the main frictiongear c engages, is mounted upon a sliding plate g3, which is slotted around the hub of the base-casting, and has on its other end a brake O, which is adapted to operate upon the rim of the main friction-gear c. With one end of this sliding plate a treadlelever P is connected by spring-controlled links p. By pressing upon the treadle the sliding plate is drawn backwardly, thereby withdrawing the friction-gear g from its engagement with the main friction-gear e and at the same time throwing the brake O into engagement with the last-named gear, which immediately stops the rotation of the sleeve C, upon which the table D is mounted.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a can-capping machine, the combination of the fixed standard, the sleeve mountedv thereon and carrying the table', the rotating shaft G and gearing for revolving the sleeve with its table, the can-holders carried by the table and having spindles with friction-pulleys, the vertical side shafts H and K with their top pulleys, the endless traveling friction-belt J, mounted on said pulleys and havingits inner fold lying in the path of the spindle-pulleys of the can-holders on one side of the machine, whereby said holders are axially rotated, the power-shaft I and gearing therefrom to rotate shaft H, and a belt from shaft H to drive shaft G, substantially as herein described.

2. In a can-capping machine, the combination of the fixed standard having the calntrack, the sleeve mounted thereon and carrying the table, the shaft G for driving the table, the can-holders on the table with spindles having friction-pulleys, the vertically-movable holding-rods carried by the table and having hollow perforated lower ends and roller connections traveling on the'cam-track to operate them, the vertical side shafts H and K with their top pulleys, the endless traveling friction-belt J, mounted on said pulleys and having its inner fold lying in the path of the spindle-pulleys of the can-holders on one side of the machine, whereby said holders are axially rotated, the power-shaft Iand gearing therefrom to rotate shaft H, and a belt from shaft H to drive shaft G, substantially as herein described.

3. In a can-capping machine, the combination of the fixed standard, the sleeve mounted thereon and table carried by the sleeve, the rotary can-holders carried Aby the table and the endless belt for rotating vthe can-holders, the gear on the sleeve, the rotating shaft carrying a gear meshing with the gear on the sleeve, the sliding plate carrying said shaft and a brake-shoe on the other end of said plate, and a lever and connections for operating the sliding plate yto throw the main gear into and out of action, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

'WILLIAM VEDGWOOD.

Titnessesz S. H. NOURsE, J. A. BAYLEss. 

